Next Meeting August 7th Dales Restaurant

"THE TORQUEFLITE TIMES"

August 2012 Mid South Mopars- since 1986 VOL. 26 No. 8

The Official Publication of Mid South Mopars, A Car Club Dedicated To Promoting, Preserving, And Enhancing The Chrysler Name

On the web at or Newsletter submissions at jerrymorris68@

You Don't Need A Old Car, Just A MOPAR

Next Meeting August 7th

Dales Restaurant

1226 Main Street (State Line Road ) Southaven, MS 662-342-5726

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Officers for 2012/2013

President- Mike Snodgrass 901-826-8885 retrorockit1@

Vice President- David Shepard 901-7587-85154YhedaavirdssheopfardM@

Treasurer- Mike McKenna 901-854-8156 my57saratoga@

Secretary- James Marshall 901-377-88717w5olYf96e5a7@rboellfsoMuth.onept ar

Newsletter- Jerry Morris 901-385-0643 jerrymorris68@

Membership Director & Club Asset Manager - Ray Dietrich 662-429-3845

SGT at Arms- Jim Willis 901-291-4125

Events Staff- Mike Davis 901-229-2220

Stan Walker 901-386-0936

Bobby Buffaloe 901-388-0105

Fritz Crombie 901-754-8066

Photographer- Hall Prewitt

Webmaster- Rick Sorak 901-399-0245 528hemi@

CLUB MERCHANDISE FOR SALE

License Plates $5.00 Hats- two styles $5.00 Blue Polo Shirts (new style) $10.00 Blue T-Shirts (new style) $7.50 20th Year Anniversary T-Shirts $5.00 Pencils and Key Fobs $.25 each or 5 for $1.00

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TEKTALK

Barry Richard

This month I received a request from Danny Hoots for an article about beefing up a TF-727 transmission for use behind a modified B or RB engine. I confess to being a total idiot when it comes to automatic transmissions. It's only been in the past ten years I even built a Mopar without a 4-speed manual. However, another member built my A-500 for my street rod and put me on to a web site that caters to all brands of automatics including the Chrysler based 904 and 727, 3-speed automatics and the A-500, A-518 and A-618 4-speed overdrive (O/D) trannies.

The website is and is the site of Performance Automatic and Transmission Center or PATC. I thought I'd run off just the data for the 727 and 904 transmissions but that runs 44 pages in living color. They also have kits to overhaul your automatic to varying degrees of strength from street to racing only. They sell all sorts of kits and parts at what seems to be reasonable prices. They also will rebuild your core 727 for about $1800 or sell it to you outright for an additional core charge.

Check them out if you're in need of info, parts or the whole enchilada. If you want to run the newer 4-speed O/D trans and have it shift automatically into and out of O/D without a computer, they have kits for that, too.

WHAT TO USE IN YOUR SURE-GRIP?

This is a question I asked when I was deciding to run a sure-grip differential in the 8 ? chunks I have for my 65 Coronet rear end rebuild. I got two different answers back. I will pass them on and let you choose which one you want. I have an489 case with 3.55 gears and an Auburn suregrip. This was built by Randy's Ring and Pinion and is all new except for the case. They recommend the use of non-synthetic 80-90 wt gear oil and a bottle (usually about 4-oz) of Ford additive. I also asked our fellow member, Ed Becker, a Chrysler mechanic, what he recommended and he said he uses 75-140 synthetic gear oil which usually contains the additive in it. So you have two choices based on expert opinion. Randy's also said that their recommended oil/additive mix would work with all currently used sure-grips including the old Chrysler clutch type.

HEY, THAT THING GOT A HEMI IN IT?

Everywhere you look in our beloved Mopar magazines or at shows, people are running the new Gen3 hemis and O/D transmissions. Most sane people avoid this swap because of two main reasons ? 1) the engines are high tech and expensive, and 2) they are run by electronics. Well folks, those excuses may no longer apply!

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Excuse one was true a few years back but, since these engines are now ten years old, they are appearing in junkyards near you in Rams, Jeeps, 300s, and Chargers. A quick look on eBay the other night produced two pages of used, and a few new, hemis from $1600 to $8000. There was even a 2012 Charger takeout engine with 15 miles on it for $3500. Others had up to 180K miles on them. More expensive than a 360 but not for what you get.

Excuse two involves the complete wiring harness and engine control computer. The harness must connect to a number of sensors and controllers in order to run the whole shebang. If you run the Chrysler or GM 4 or 5-speed auto trans, a second computer may get involved. However, there are a number of aftermarket and factory harnesses and controllers becoming available that will allow you to not only run the hemi, but run it modified and run the trans also.

There are a number of items to consider before you get to install the hemi and new harness and get on the road. First of all, you must get the VIN of the vehicle, car or truck that you got the engine from if you plan to run the Chrysler transmission, get the wiring harness and computer from the same vehicle. The Gen 3 hemies showed up in 2003. In 2005 and later they got the MDS system to drop cylinders (auto trans only) and later got some sophisticated anti-theft software which can keep the engine from functioning in a different vehicle. If you get the stock harness modified you will need to know the year and VIN so they can modify it.

Second, if you use an MDS engine in an older car, you won't be able to use the MDS system so there are pieces you need to get from Ma Mopar to disable it.

If you decide to use a GM trans (4L60, 4L65, 4L80) behind your hemi, TCI has just come out with a computer and wiring kit to work with GM transmissions that allows the O/D to work as planned in any car and you may not have to redesign your floor and torsion bar cross member.

So, how fast can you afford to go? This swap is not for the faint of heart unless you have mad skills and a large available credit on your credit card. But it can and has been done. Some dealers just sell the pieces, while others are full service shops. Check with them first before you buy an engine to see what you need to have or know before they can help you. Plan ahead and be sure of what engine you want, whether it is going to have a stick, Torqueflite or 4, 5, or 6speed auto behind it. Will it be EFI or carbureted? Will it be drive by wire (DBW) or drive by cable (DBC). If it's EFI, plan your fuel system including a new tank with new sending unit and in-tank pump or Corvette pump with fuel and return lines to the engine fuel rails. If you go slow and plan ahead, you can have it all: G3 HEMI power, EFI, overdrive transmission in a classic Mopar muscle car. As the kits, engines and harnesses come down in price, it only gets better.

Here are some sources to contact if you're interested:

STREET AND PERFORMANCE

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 ? Everything from engines to installation. They sell all the pieces and parts and can walk you thru the whole thing or do it for you. They're in Mena, AR. Visit their website for more info. NUTTER RACING ENGINES Nutter uses the GM computer and sensors to make the G3 HEMI run in anything. Articles in MOPAR ACTION show the conversion and any dyno shop can tune it. Costs are kept down by eliminating the more expensive Mopar Controller and harness. Visit his website. HOTWIRE AUTO Hotwire auto is also in Mena, AR, and probably does the harness mods for Street & Performance and others. They can provide harnesses for G3HEMI engines and the Chrysler 5-speed auto transmissions. MODERN MUSCLE Modern Muscle sells kits and pieces to adapt and/or modify the 5.7, 6.1, 6.4 G3 HEMIs for use in any Mopar. The sell parts from TTI and others plus provide harnesses and controllers BOUCHILLON PERFORMANCE A LONGTIME Mopar parts provider and innovator, Bouchillon has harnesses and controllers for the G3 HEMI swap They also sell complete engines and other parts including stuff for your classic Mopar muscle. That ought to keep you busy for a while.

Upcoming Events

Every Tuesday - Parking lot south of Cosco's on Germantown Parkway at I40. Every Thursday - Parking lot at Stage Road and Kirby Whitten next to the new CVS. Every Friday - Parking lot by Taco Shop on Hwy 51 in Millington. Sept 15 - Landers/ Collierville Police Dept. Show. Central Church, Collierville, TN. Sept 21-23 Delta River Cruisin' Memphis Street Rods at Sam's Town hotel & Casino,Tunica Oct 20 ? Williston Old Timers Festival & Possible Mid-South Mopars Show. Williston, TN

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